Are you searching for the perfect website or streaming platform to watch Japanese dramas with subtitles? Look no further!
Finding the perfect platform where you can stream can be frustrating, as several streaming sites often charge a hefty subscription.

Others lack enough Japanese dramas and subtitles or are downright illegal to use, something you don’t want.
Luckily, there are several free and legal streaming sites to find good Japanese dramas. Below is a look at some of them:
1. MeWatch

- Starting Price (per month): Free (With an ad-free VIP plan at $5.99 monthly).
- Availability: Worldwide.
- Channels: Over 20 Live TV channels.
- Movies / TV show catalog: Over 1,000 titles.
- Device Support: Web browsers, mobile devices (Android and iOS), Smart TVs, Android TV boxes, Chromecast, and Xiaomi Mi Box S.
- Simultaneous Streams: Unlimited.
MeWatch, also known as Toggle, is a streaming service owned by Mediacorp, a Singaporean company.
It offers various Asian content, including Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Malay, and Korean dramas and movies.
The platform also carries several international (English) movies, TV shows, and several live TV channels (some accessible on the premium plan or with an add-on package).
Pros
- It has a 100% free, ad-supported plan.
- It has a large variety of content, including Asian and international dramas and movies.
- It offers several live TV channels on both free and premium plans.
- TV shows and movies come with subtitles (in English and other languages).
- It has a very easy to use interface with a well-organized library.
Cons
- Content (on-demand and live TV) is limited on the free plan.
- Some users have complained about bugs with the MeWatch streaming app.
- Ads on the free plan can get annoying.
2. YouTube

- Starting Price (per month): Free.
- Availability: Worldwide.
- Channels: N/A.
- Movies / TV show catalog: Over 1,000 titles.
- Device Support: Web browsers, mobile devices, Smart TVs, Chromecast, Roku, gaming consoles, cable and satellite providers.
- Simultaneous Streams: Unlimited.
YouTube is another top platform where you can watch free Japanese dramas. Asian content channels such as Drama Japan and AsianCrush regularly post full Japanese dramas, many with English subtitles.
To get a specific Japanese drama with English subtitles, use the YouTube search bar.
Pros
- YouTube is completely free to use.
- You can access YouTube on multiple devices nearly everywhere in the world.
- You can find several Japanese dramas with quality English subtitles.
- YouTube often offers high-quality videos with fewer buffering issues than most streaming platforms.
- It offers a playlist management feature that you can use to curate your favorite Japanese dramas.
Cons
- YouTube adverts can be annoying, but you can easily skip them.
- There’s no central Japanese drama library, making finding watching content difficult.
- Some content may be illegally uploaded, have poor video quality, or come with inaccurate (or no) subtitles.
3. Crunchyroll

- Starting Price (per month): Free (With premium plans starting at $7.99 monthly).
- Availability: Over 200 countries worldwide.
- Channels: N/A.
- Movies / TV show catalog: Over 1,000 titles.
- Device Support: Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Mobile devices (iOS, Android, and Fire Tablets), gaming consoles (PlayStation 4 & 4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch), browsers, and Windows PCs (Windows app).
- Simultaneous Streams: Unlimited on free and up to four on premium plans.
Crunchyroll is a video on-demand streaming service owned by Sony Group. It offers an extensive library of anime content, movies, and TV shows accessible on a free (ad-supported) or three premium plans.
The platform’s library is a good place to find some good Japanese dramas with English subtitles. The site also has a good collection of anime series from Japan.
Pros
- It offers a 100% free plan with ads.
- It has an extensive library that includes several anime series.
- Content is readily available on both free and paid plans.
- Most of the content offered on the site comes with subtitles.
Cons
- The available content can be limited depending on your geographical location.
- Some users have complained about the quality and accuracy of the subtitles translations.
4. AsianCrush

- Starting Price (per month): Free (or $4.99 per month for an ad-free premium plan).
- Availability: United States and Canada.
- Channels: Varies based on location.
- Movies / TV show catalog: Over 1,000 titles.
- Device Support: Smart TVs, web browser, Roku, mobile devices (iOS and Android).
- Simultaneous Streams: Unlimited.
AsianCrush is a digital content streaming service based in the USA. It offers a vast library of Asian films, TV shows, anime, and other entertainment content.
You can enjoy Japanese, Thai, Korean, Chinese, and other dramas from the Asian region.
Pros
- It has a vast collection of Japanese and other Asian dramas and films.
- It comes with Live TV channels, providing more content to watch.
- It has a free ad-supported plan that lets you enjoy much content.
- Movies and TV shows in foreign languages have English subtitles.
Cons
- It is only available in two countries, and there are no Live TV channels in the Canadian region.
- Some customers have complained about bugs when using the AsianCrush app.
5. Popcornflix

- Starting Price (per month): Free.
- Availability: USA, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and Middle East.
- Channels: N/A.
- Movies / TV show catalog: Over 1,000 titles.
- Device Support: Smart TVs, Mobile devices (iOS and Android), PCs, Roku, Chromecast, web browsers.
- Simultaneous Streams: Unlimited.
Popcornflix is a free, ad-supported streaming service based in the United States. It offers various entertainment content types, including new TV shows, blockbuster films, cult classics, and foreign TV shows and films.
While it does not offer exclusive Asian content, it is an excellent streaming platform to find some good Japanese dramas and anime series with English subtitles.
Pros
- It is 100% free (no hidden fees or premium plan with better content).
- You don’t have to waste time creating an account. You can start streaming immediately.
- It is available in several countries and supports several devices and platforms.
- It offers subtitles for both English and foreign movies and TV shows.
Cons
- The selection of Japanese dramas is limited.
- It comes with adverts, which can be annoying.
6. HIDIVE

- Starting Price (per month): $5.99 per month.
- Availability: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.
- Channels: N/A.
- Movies / TV show catalog: About 500 titles.
- Device Support: Mobile phones (iOS and Android), Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Fire Tablet, Xbox, Roku, Chromecast, and web browsers.
- Simultaneous Streams: 2
HIDIVE is a streaming series that offers exclusive Japanese anime content, including movies and anime series. It is, therefore, the perfect streaming platform to check out if you like animated Japanese dramas.
The platform’s content has several subtitles, including English. Many Japanese anime series have been “dubbed” (translated to English), making them easier to watch.
Pros
- It offers exclusive Japanese content.
- The platform offers both subtitles and dubs.
- It offers a private chat room feature to interact with other users.
- It has several exclusive series not found elsewhere.
Cons
- It does not offer a free plan (although the subscription fee is lower than most streaming platforms).
- It only offers anime content – no live-action Japanese dramas.
- Its library is not expansive, and you won’t find many popular anime series.
7. Midnight Pulp

- Starting Price (per month): Free (with an ad-free plan starting from $4.
- Availability: United States and Canada.
- Channels: 5
- Movies / TV show catalog: Over 7,500 titles.
- Device Support: PCs (Mac, Plex, and Windows, Smart TVs, Mobile devices (Android and iOS), Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Chromecast.
- Simultaneous Streams: Unlimited (on the free plan).
Midnight Pulp is a streaming service based in the United States famous for offering cult movies in genres such as horror, sci-fi, thrillers, fantasy, and action.
The streaming platform also features a decent collection of foreign content, including several Japanese dramas.
Pros
- It offers a free plan with no registration necessary.
- It has a vast library of content.
- You can find several good cult movies and TV shows.
- It supports several devices and platforms.
Cons
- It comes with several ads that can be annoying.
- The selection of recent Japanese dramas is limited.